JEFFERSON — A Jefferson woman escaped from her Bear Drive home after it caught fire early Saturday morning, but one of her cats died in the blaze, police said.

Lawrence Kent, who lives next door to the home, said his neighbor, Diane Johnson, knocked on his door at about 3:30 a.m. asking him to call the fire department because her house was on fire. Johnson's home is situated next to Longwood Lake.

Township Police Sgt. Robert Bush said the fire was contained to the enclosed front porch and the basement of the home, and that Johnson was not injured in the fire.

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One of her cats died in the blaze, and the other cat is still missing, Bush said.

Detective Richard Geib determined that the cause of the fire appeared to be an overheated electrical cord, Bush said. The home sustained fire, water and smoke damage, he said.

Jefferson Fire Companies 1 and 2 responded to the scene, along with the Milton First Aid Squad and the Morris County Sheriff's Department, Crime Investigation Section, Bush said. The prosecutor's office was also notified, he said.

Firefighters brought in several pumper trucks to the scene as there are no fire hydrants in the vicinity of Bear Drive, Kent said.